Sycamore moth caterpillar

Photo Information

(120)

Genre: Animals

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2008-07-26

Categories: Insects

Camera: Nikon D200, 105mm 1:2.8 Sigma

Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds

More Photo Info: [view]

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2008-07-26 1:31

Viewed: 6477

Points: 14

[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note

I found this chap trying to cross the busy pavement in front of our house this morning. To avoid it being squashed by passers by, I moved it into the garden where we have plenty of its food plants.

The sycamore moth (Acronicta aceris) is locally distributed in Britain, with it being more frequent in the south east and central southern England. It tends to be most frequent in urban areas with parks and gardens.

The adult moths fly between June and early August. The caterpillars can be found from July to September. The larva food plants include sycamore, field maple, horse-chestnut and cultivated acers. Once fully grown the larva will over winter as a pupa in a double layered cocoon in a bark crevice or among leaf litter.

Regards, Steve

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Critiques [Translate]

Seabird (1387)
[2008-07-26 1:45]

Hi, Steve,

this is lovely! a nice contrast between the 'soft' caterpillar and the 'hard' wood.

you wrote: "To avoid it being squashed by passers by, I moved it into the garden where we have plenty of its food plants."

ya, that's exactly what i and my friends would usually do too to the snails in this rainy season in Hong Kong. it's really sad to see them being squashed by careless passers by.

Chrs,
Man Yee

crs (3551)
[2008-07-26 4:54]

Hi Steve,

What an interesting creature and what a good photo you took. I like the natural colors and also the sharp details of the heary body.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

GaryT (160)
[2008-07-26 6:46]